The new sensation of Indian Cricket, Hardik Pandya is certainly drawing everybody’s eyeballs with his brilliant display with both bat and ball. Pandya was adjudged the man of the series award in the recently concluded five-match ODI series against Australia. Fans and critics have even started comparing him with the great Kapil Dev.
However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly while showering heaps on praise on the talented all-rounder also mentioned that it is too early to compare Pandya with the legendary Kapil Dev.
Ganguly while talking to India Today said, “Hardik Pandya has the qualities to help this Indian team but doesn”t compare him with Kapil Dev at the moment. Kapil Dev was an absolute champion. We will talk about it 10-15 years down the line once Pandya keeps playing that long.”
“Let’s enjoy his cricket, he is a good cricketer, he is a positive cricketer. He’s a fighter and he has got heart when he plays cricket. That’s what you look in a young cricketer. I wish him all the best hope he continues to do good work for Virat Kohli,” he further added.
The Prince of Kolkata also hailed the selectors for picking Ashish Nehra in the T20 squad, and termed him an ‘exceptional bowler.’ Ganguly is optimistic about Indian cricket with the fact that selectors are giving priority to ability rather than age and is quite hopeful that Nehra will do well in this series.
Talking about Kohli’s captaincy Ganguly mentioned that Kohli has the material to become India’s greatest captain and the real test for this side will be the next 15 months. “Virat Kohli has got qualities of being one of India’s great captains, there’s no doubt about it. I think next 15 months will be important for him when India go to South Africa, England, Australia and the World Cup. I think he is in the right direction. He is preparing his team, he’s picking players and giving opportunities. They will beat New Zealand and Sri Lanka, there’s no doubt about it. India will be challenged when they go to South Africa but I feel this side has got the ability to do well there as well,” the southpaw concluded.
